In Act 1 Scene 3, tensions and rumors about Hamlet are brewing. Laertes is departing to France to continue his education, but before he leaves, he warns his sister Ophelia of dangers of fooling around with Hamlet. In his monologue, Laertes creates a metaphor to describe Hamlet's relationship to his obligations: "Unto the voice and yielding of that body / Whereof he [(Hamlet)] is the head" (I.iii.26). Hamlet is the representation of Denmark, but he is bound to the will of the people and the will of the state. On the contrary, Laertes does not have these same obligations, so he is allowed to continue his education. The power and respect held to each individual is both a blessing and a curse; the greater authority one has in the kingdom, the less say they have regarding their fate.
Although Laertes and Hamlet are confined by different expectations, they are both obedient and reverent to their fathers. Upon his departure, Laertes intently listens to a list of advice from his father, Polonius. When the monologue is complete, Laertes says to his father in gratitude, "Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord" (I.iii.88). Hamlet shows a similar level of love and adoration of his father. When Hamlet confronts the ghost, he willingly follows the apparition to an unknown destination in the hope that it could be his father. Hamlet does not value the current state of his life: "I do not set my life at a pin's fee," (I.iv.73) and he therefore hopes that an encounter with the ghost will bring some meaning back into his life. Laertes and Hamlet are both loving sons who diligently obey the commands of the fathers. However, Hamlet seems to be in search of answers and inspirations, whereas Laertes thinks he has uncovered the truth and is trying to protect his sister Ophelia. It will be interesting to see how these characters diverge or compare as the play continues.
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